Jumping rope



Oct. 19, 1954 A. J. TOPLANSKY JUMPING ROPE Filed Aug. 24', 1951 INVENTOR PLANS KY Aunnsw 1T0 ATTORNEYi Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNIED STAT ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to jumping or skipping ropes, of the type commonly used by children during play and used, additionally, by athletes for the purpose of improving their muscular coordination and sense of timing.

One object of the present invention is to provide a jumping rope of the type stated, so formed as to put to a greater use the circular arm and wrist motion developed during the jumping action.

Another important object is to provide a jumping rope as described having means novelly formed on the handles thereof adapted to show visibly and clearly the extent of the developed wrist motion, so that the user can correct said motion or change the motion, as desired.

Yet another object is to provide a handle construction in a jumping rope equipped with a flexible, ribbon-like means that will travel through a circular path, so as to add novelty and pleasure to the ordinary use of the rope.

Still another object is to provide a jumping rope that will accomplish the desirable results stated above, and will yet be capable of manufacture at little increase in costabove the cost of a conventionally formed jumping rope.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claim appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a jumping rope formed in accordance with the present invention, the rope being shown in use by a child;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of one of the handles;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the handles, taken on line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the jumping rope formed in accordance with the present invention includes a pair of identically formed handles generally designated Hi. The handles are of tubular formation, and at one end are closed as at M, the other ends of the handles being left open, as at it.

Intermediate opposite ends of each handle l0, and disposed contiguous to the open end It thereof, I form in the handle an opening l8, having side walls or ears 20 disposed at opposite sides thereof, said side walls being extended longitudinally of the handle as best shown in Figure 2, and projecting outwardly and laterally from the handle.

An elongated, flexible rope member 22 has its respective ends extended into the handles I8 (Figure 3), said ends abutting against the closed end walls M of the handles. By forcing the ends of the flexible member 22 into the handles [0, portions of the flexible member adjacent the ends thereof are forced outwardly through the openings [8, so as to define outwardly and laterally extended loops 24.

The side portions 25 of each loop 24 are disposed, adjacent the handle, in longitudinally contacting relation, and are secured together in said relation by means of a spirally wrapped tape 28 or its equivalent. The outer end portion of each loop, however, is left untaped, so as to define an opening 29 through which is extended a ribbon 3B.

As a result, there is provided intermediate opposite ends of each handle a flexible, lateral extension on the handle formed by the taped loop, with the free end of said extension being spaced outwardly from the handle.

During use, when the handles are gripped and disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the user, a large loop is defined by the flexible member 22. Thereafter, on use of the jumping rope in a conventional manner, the handles ID will be bodily rotated by a combined wrist and arm motion, through a substantially circular path. This results in rotation of the flexible, lateral extensions through a generally circular path concentric with the path of travel of the handles. When the lateral extensions are so rotated, the ribbon members secured to the free ends thereof will be caused to swing therewith through the path of travel of the extensions.

In this way, the user is enabled to observe visibly the nature and extent of his or her wrist and arm motion, and can improve upon or change said motion as desired. At the same time, novelty is added to the jumping operation, adding to the pleasure afforded thereby, the pleasure given the user being enhanced by movement of the large loop formed by the member 22 through a circular path of substantial diameter, accompanied by movement of the flexible, lateral extensions and the ribbon members carried thereby through smaller circular paths at either side of the large loop.

It is believed clear that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be 3 illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor changes in construction that may be permitted Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a jumping rope, an elongated, flexible member: tubular gripping handles receiving the opposite ends of said member, said handles being formed open at oiie end for extension of said ends of the member thereinto and being closed at their other ends with the inserted ends of the flexible member terminating at the closed ends of the handles, the handles having openings in their side walls intermediate their ends, portions of the flexible member adjacent said ends of the flexible member being folded into the form of elongated flexible loops and being projected laterally and outwardly through said openings to inter-engage the handles and the ends of the flexible member against relative separation; tape means wound about the laterally projected loops at their inner ends to close the loops for part of their lengths, preventing unfolding of the loops and withdrawal of the loop-forming portions of the flexible member from the openings of the handles; and ribbon means engaged in the open, outer end portions of the loops to aiford a visual indication of the extent of the wrist inotion developed during use of the jumping rope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 233,224 Flynt Oct. 12, 1880 268,931 Pohley Dec. 12, 1882 498,753 Tucker May 30, 1893 1,371,915 Logan Mar. 15, 1921 

